{{Short description|Albanian politician and diplomat (born 1977)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Ermal Dredha | image = File:Profil Ermal Dredha.png | caption = | office = Ambassador of Albania to Switzerland and Liechtenstein | term_start = 10 November 2025 | predecessor = Mustafa Nano | office2 = Mayor of Vlorë | term_start2 = July 2023 | term_end2 = 10 September 2025 | predecessor2 = Dritan Leli | successor2 = Brunilda Mersini | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1977|10|15}} | birth_place = Vlorë, PSR Albania | party = Socialist Party of Albania | profession = Diplomat, politician | alma_mater = University of Tirana | appointer = Bajram Begaj }}
'''Ermal Dredha''' (born 15 October 1977) is an Albanian diplomat and politician, currently serving as the Ambassador of Albania to Switzerland, also accredited as non-resident Ambassador to the Principality of Liechtenstein. He was appointed to this position by President Bajram Begaj on 10 November 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://euronews.al/en/begaj-appoints-ermal-dredha-as-albanias-ambassador-to-switzerland-and-liechtenstein/ |title=Begaj appoints Ermal Dredha as Albania’s ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein |website=Euronews Albania |date=10 November 2025 |access-date=11 November 2025 |language=en }}</ref>
He previously served as Mayor of Vlorë from July 2023 to September 2025,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://vlora.gov.al/kryetari/ |title=Kryetari i Bashkisë Vlorë |website=Vlora Municipality |language=sq |access-date=30 May 2025 }}</ref> and has also held various positions within Albania’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, including as Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and Director of State Protocol of Albania.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pas dorëheqjes nga kryesimi i Bashkisë Vlorë, Ermal Dredha u dërgon mesazh vartësve të tij: Kënaqësi t’ju shërbeja, edhe pse jo të gjithëve ua zgjidha hallet |url=https://shqiptarja.com/lajm/pas-doreheqjes-nga-kryesimi-i-bashkise-vlore-ermal-dredha-u-dergon-mesazh-vartesve-te-tij-kenaqesi-tju-sherbeja-edhe-pse-jo-te-gjitheve-ua-zgjidha-hallet |website=Shqiptarja.com |date=11 September 2025 |access-date=11 September 2025 |language=sq}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Born in Vlora, Albania, Dredha graduated with a bachelor's degree in Italian and English from the Faculty of Foreign Languages at the University of Tirana (1996–2000). He also obtained a certification in Information Technology from an institute in Tirana in 2000. In 2003, he attended a professional course in English in Toronto, Canada, and in 2004–2005 earned a diploma from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan in Osaka, focusing on Japanese language, history, and culture. From 2006 to 2007, he completed a specialized course in Event Management at the European School of Economics in London.
== Career == Dredha began his career in 1999 as a translator for Italian journalists during the Kosovo crisis. In 2000, he became an assistant and general manager of the digital archive at Italian Cooperation in Tirana, overseeing water supply infrastructure projects in Albania.
In 2002, he joined the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs as a personal assistant to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. He later served as head of the IT sector and State Protocol Department. From 2010 to 2013, he was Director of State Protocol.
Between November 2013 and November 2016, Dredha was Consul General of Albania in Bari, Italy.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://kultura.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/POST_young_albanian_artists.pdf |title=Archived copy of young Albanian artists |access-date=12 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411220701/https://kultura.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/POST_young_albanian_artists.pdf |archive-date=11 April 2023 |url-status=dead |language=sq}}</ref> From May 2016 to March 2023, he served as Albania's Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://telegraf.al/politike/nishani-dekreton-4-ambasadore-ja-levizjet-ne-diplomaci/ |title=Presidenti Nishani dekreton 4 ambasadorë |access-date=12 April 2023 |language=sq}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://president.al/presidenti-begaj-dekreton-lirimin-nga-detyra-te-ambasadorit-te-jashtezakonshem-dhe-fuqiplote-te-republikes-se-shqiperise-ne-emiratet-e-bashkuara-arabe |title=Presidenti Begaj dekreton lirimin nga detyra të Ambasadorit të Plotfuqishëm dhe fuqiplotë të Republikës së Shqipërisë Ermal Dredha |access-date=30 May 2025 |language=sq}}</ref>
In April 2023, Dredha was selected by the Socialist Party of Albania as their candidate for the Vlora mayoral election. He won the election in May 2023, securing over 70% of the vote. He officially assumed office in July 2023, succeeding Dritan Leli.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://kqz.gov.al/document/decision-no-647-dated-2-6-2023-on-granting-the-mandate-of-the-mayor-of-vlore-mr-ermal-neki-dredha-proposed-by-the-electoral-subject-socialist-party-of-albania-for-the-elections-for-local/?lang=en |title=Central Election Commission decision for Ermal Dredha's mandate |access-date=30 May 2025 |language=en |archive-date=10 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240810082501/https://kqz.gov.al/document/decision-no-647-dated-2-6-2023-on-granting-the-mandate-of-the-mayor-of-vlore-mr-ermal-neki-dredha-proposed-by-the-electoral-subject-socialist-party-of-albania-for-the-elections-for-local/?lang=en |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://top-channel.tv/2023/07/03/ermal-dredha-merr-detyren-ne-krye-te-bashkise-vlore-mesazhi-para-administrates-nuk-kemi-kohe-per-te-humbur/ |title=Ermal Dredha merr detyrën në krye të Bashkisë Vlorë |access-date=30 May 2025 |language=sq}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Dredha, Ermal}}
Category:1977 births Category:Living people Category:Mayors of places in Albania Category:Ambassadors of Albania Category:Ambassadors of Albania to Switzerland Category:Albanian politicians